T HIS walk takes in the historic city walls, peaceful meadows beside the River Dee, with a return along approaches to Eaton Hall and eventually rejoining the river opposite the city’s racecourse

Stand on Eastgate Bridge, with the city centre to your right.

Follow the walls past the remains of the Roman amphitheatre (left) to steps leading down to the riverside promenade at the Recorder Hotel.

Turn left along The Groves to reach the footbridge across the Dee.

Cross this and keep ahead at the end.

Keep right along Victoria Crescent to the junction; go half-left along queen’s Park Road.

Turn first right along St George’s Crescent – this eventually becomes Bottoms Lane.

Pass through the gate and descend the rough track to reach the riverside meadows of Queen’s Park.

At the river turn right, upstream, following the path through tranquil meadows.

In a mile you will pass a pumping station, beyond which the path hugs the riverside below the imposing house called Heronbridge.

At the stile turn right up the way-marked path to the main road.

Turn right along the road, the Roman Watling Street.

About 100yds past the 40mph signs is a pull-in and lane to the left.

Take the gap-stile through the picket fencing immediately on the left.

Join the woodland path parallel to the road – this passes a line of yews and then bends gradually right.

Here and there it is cobbled.

Ignore side paths, eventually reaching the tree-lined avenue forming the Chester Approach to distant Eaton Hall, seat of the Duke of Westminster.

Turn right and follow this through to the ornate gates.

The way is diagonally across this very busy junction.

The best route is right off the driveway end and across two pelican crossings.

Once across the main road there are way-marked steps into woods right behind the barrier.

Take these and go first right, continuing below a high footbridge to the riverside path.

Turn right beneath Grosvenor Bridge.

Keep ahead along the roughening lane to reach a small park.

Keep to the riverside path to gain the main road.

Turn left across the old Dee Bridge to reach Bridgegate.

Follow the Walls from here back to the centre.

From Jarrold Short Walks – leisure walks for all ages, by author Neil Coates, is published by Jarrold Publishing, available from local bookshops, Jarrold Publishing, Whitefriars, Norwich, NR3 1TR; e-mail info@totalwalking.co.uk; www.totalwalking.co.uk.

Start/parking: Eastgate Bridge, Chester – ample parking (fee) in and around the city centre.

Distance: 4½ miles Time: 2½hrs

Route features: City lanes and paths, riverside walks, field paths. Dogs on leads. Ten stiles and gates.


Ordnance Survey Maps: Explorer 266 (Wirral and Chester).

The Walk: Around city walls, peaceful meadow beside River Dee, with return along approaches to Eaton Hall, rejoining river opposite city’s racecourse Stand on Eastgate Bridge, with the city centre to your right.